FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2020

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington Begins No Contact Friday Food Drop Offs at Local Parishes to Meet Increased Need for Food Assistance During Pandemic 

Effort Encourages Anyone Able to Donate Food to Do So as Food Pantries Publicize Safe Environments for Intake and Distribution   

ARLINGTON, Va. - The No Contact Friday Food Drop Offs initiative is an effort by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington to increase food donations during this critical time by offering no contact drive-thru drop offs throughout the region. All food will be distributed through the organization's St. Lucy Food Project which provides food to the community through three Catholic Charities pantries - Loaves and Fishes in Front Royal, Christ House in Alexandria, and the Leesburg Regional Office in Leesburg - as well as some 60 parish, interfaith, community and government pantries within the Diocese.

“The number of families we are seeing who need food assistance has increased rapidly as we respond to the pandemic. Our mission is to help our neighbors, and to do so safely. These drive-thru food drives are designed to ensure the safety of food donors and recipients, as well as our staff and volunteers.” said Art Bennett, president and CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. “Dropping off food is great. It makes a big difference. But people don't have to restrict themselves to this method. They can also go to our ccda.net website and make a donation so we can both purchase and deliver food. There are many ways to help, and the help is certainly needed.”

Since the onset of the coronavirus, Catholic Charities' pantries, parish and partner pantries have experienced dramatic increases in the amount of food needed as the economic toll on families rises. In March, St. Lucy had a record-breaking month, distributing 58,700 pounds of food to its three pantries as well as to many local partners. Typically, the project reaches high points of distribution at about 42,000 pounds of food a month.

Food needs include non-perishables such as canned fruits and vegetables, boxed or bagged cereal, rice and pasta, pasta sauce, cooking oil, bread, non-refrigerated juice, peanut butter, and canned fish, such as tuna or salmon.

Catholic Charities No Contact Friday Food Drop Offs began last Friday, April 24 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Springfield. Almost 7,000 pounds of food was collected at the four-hour drive-thru drop off.

The list of existing sites can be found at https://www.ccda.net/give-help/donate-and-distribute-food/ and below:

Friday, May 1, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
1020 Springvale Rd.
Great Falls, VA 22066

Friday, May 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
12805 Valleywood Dr.
Lake Ridge, VA 22192

Friday, May 15, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church
5222 Sideburn Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22032

Friday, May 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. James Catholic Church
905 Park Ave.
Falls Church, VA 22046

Friday, May 29, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church
4100 Mill Creek Rd.
Haymarket, VA 20169

Friday, June 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Joseph Catholic Church
750 Peachtree St.
Herndon, VA 20170

Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. Bernadette Catholic Church
7600 Old Keene Mill Rd.
Springfield, VA 22152

*Staff and volunteers practice social distancing at all sites.

Donations can also be made to the St. Lucy Food Project warehouse, 8426-28 Kao Circle in Manassas, at a “no contact” secure bin 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To donate online, please visit https://secure.ccda.net/Give/Give/Donate/Giving.aspx. To learn more about ways to donate food throughout the Diocese, visit https://www.ccda.net/give-help/donate-and-distribute-food/.

For more information, contact Amber Roseboom, Director of Media Relations, Catholic Diocese of Arlington, at 571-215-8731 or Amber.Roseboom@arlingtondiocese.org.

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Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington serves the poor and vulnerable who live within the 21 counties and seven cities of the Diocese of Arlington, which is led by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. Catholic Charities provides food for the hungry, a free medical clinic for adults including prenatal care, adoption services, transformational housing for the homeless, mental health counseling, emergency financial assistance, prison ministry, workforce development, and immigration and refugee services. Catholic Charities serves all, regardless of faith. www.ccda.net